Tomaso Albinoni

Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni (June 8, 1671, Venice, Italy – January 17, 1751, Venice) was an Italian baroque composer. While famous in his day as an opera composer, he is mainly remembered today for his instrumental music, some of which is regularly recorded. His "Adagio in G minor", actually a later reconstruction, is one of the most frequently recorded pieces of Baroque music.

Music and influence

He wrote some fifty operas, of which 28 were produced in Venice between 1723 and 1740, but today is most noted for his instrumental music, especially his oboe concertos.

Related Topics:
Instrumental - Oboe

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His instrumental music greatly attracted the attention of Johann Sebastian Bach, who wrote at least two fugues on Albinoni's themes and constantly used his basses for harmony exercises for his pupils.

Related Topics:
Johann Sebastian Bach - Fugue - Basses - Harmony

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Much of Albinoni's work was lost in World War II with the destruction of the Dresden State Library. Little is known of his life and music after the mid 1720s.

Related Topics:
World War II - Dresden State Library - 1720s

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The famous Albinoni Adagio in G Minor is a 1945 reconstruction by Remo Giazotto of a fragment from a slow movement of a trio sonata he discovered among the ruins of the State Library.

Related Topics:
1945 - Remo Giazotto - Trio sonata

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